Non-skid composition of caoutchouc or rubber and the like.



CARLO PACCHETTI, OF MILAN, ITALY.

NON-SKID COMPOSITION OF CAOUTCHOUC OR RUBBER AND THELIKE.

N 0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CARLO PAOCI'IETTI, a subject of the King of Italy,and residing at Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in a Non-Skid Composition of Caoutchouc orRubber and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a non skidcomposition of caoutchouc,india rubber of its substitutes for use in the manufacture of tires,soles of boots and shoes, heels, belts and other articles, which aresubject to great wear and tear and where a tendency to skid should beavoided as much as possible. It has been proposed to incorporate asfillers with india-rubber certain animal products, such as horse-hair,bristles, claws, horn, whalebone and the like. The mass was then mixedwith sulfur and vulcanized in a well known manner, with a view to preparing a product that offered greater resistance to friction than theusual vulcanized is mixed with horse-hair, bristles and the ,like a.composition is obtained which, as it were, is permeated with a net-workof hair. The india-rubber mass is thereby strengthened and becomes moreresistant to wear and tear. Its non-skid properties are increased, butstill its value as a non-skid composition is not great for all that,because the surface has not a great degree of roughness and moreover theroughness gradually becomes;

less and less.

I I have now found that I can attain a most extraordinary increase ofthe non-skid property of the india-rubber composition compared withother compositions of a similar class by cutting horse-hair and likeanimal hair into such small lengths as to give rise to the formation ofa very large amount of points, which increase the roughness and thefrictional surface of the mass to an enormous extent.

The invention therefore consists in cutting animal hair, preferablyhorse-hair, into very small lengths, which should not exceed more than0.12 to 0.16 inch (3 to 4 mm.) Those small fibers are well incorporatedand mixed with india-rubber while in a. plastic state and sulfur is thenadded to the mixture, whereupon the mixture is vulcanized. The smalllengths of horse hair are not brittle and consequently they do not breakand crumble into powder. At the same time Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed November 14, 1916. Serial No. 131,276.

they prevent a large expansion of the indiarubber without deprivingit'of its elasticity, whereby its life is lengthened, even if articlesmade therefrom are subjected to great wear. In using the abovecomposition for tires, it will occur that by the friction of the tireswith the pavement some liairwill fall out of the mass, forming smallholes or cavities, from which the air escapes, producfrom that, smalllengths exhibit far more points than hair of even moderate length andthe number of points is here of the greatest importance. Furthermore,when long hairs are pulled out by wear and tear great holes or cavitiesare formed, whereby tires are rapidly destroyed and made unfit for work.Finally I have found that a vulcanized mixture of india-rubber an longhair by use gradually assumes apo ished appearance and loses itsnon-skid proper-- ties. It is evident that a composition consisting of avulcanized mixture of indiarubber and small lengths of animal hair orthe like will exhibit a brushlike appearance which is well adapied fortires of motor vehicles, cycles and other conveyances, because aslipping of the wheels even on wet pavement is absolutely prevented,while at the same time the pavement is not injured in any way, as isfrequently done by trussed non-slipping wheels of the usualconstruction. I have even been able to drive with tires according to thepresent invention on a surface of ice without slipping.

Considering that the composition does not stretch or expand very much,it is very suitable for covers of pneumatic tires. It does not exert adetrimental stress on the layer of woven fabric forming the core of thecover and is strong enough to avoid the necessity of ,.q.ner layer ofwoven fabric The composition may also be employed as a material formaking belts, as-its nonslipping property is here of essential value.

I have also found it very suitable for packing rings of steam and Waterpipes and for all articles Where great strength and resistance tofriction should be combined and Where the deleterious action ofmoisture, acids or'gases should be overcome.

The proportion of the components may be varied at Will and must conformto the object in view Without altering the essence of the invention.

Preferably the hair is freed from fat or grease in the customary mannerbefore being mixed With the india-rubber, the cohesion betweenindia-rubber and hair being hereby considerably increased.

Having now particularly described' and ascertained the nature of thesaid invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declarethat What I claim is 1. A composition of matter for the purposespecified, comprising a vulcanized mixture of rubber, short lengths of'relatively stiff animal hair not exceeding 0.12 to 0.16 of an inch inlength, and sulfur, the composition being such that the sharp ends ingreat number of the animal hair tend to protrude through the surface ofthe vulcanized mixture.

2. A composition of matter for the purpose specified, comprising avulcanized mixture of rubber, short lengths of relatively stiff animalhair freed from fat and not exceeding 0.12 to 0.16 of an inch in length,and sulfur, the composition being such that the ends of the animal hairtend to protrude through the surface of the vulcanized mixture.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.-

CARLO PACCHETTI.

Witnesses:

RAINIER I. CoMPANI, LUIS J. HERNANDEZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

